Mossel Bay

Afrikaans name: Mosselbaai

Mossel Bay lighthouse

Photo © michaeljung - Fotolia.com

Western Cape

Mossel Bay is a town situated on the southern coast of South Africa. It is about 400 km east of Cape Town.

The town is located in a good area for both farming and fishing and these are the activities that provide most of the jobs in the area. It is also popular with tourists. In the last 50 years ago a gas-to-liquids refinery was established after natural gas was discovered off shore. This now plays an important role in the locla economy.

Although there is evidence of humans inhabiting the area for over 160,000 it was the arrival of Bartolomeu Dias on the 3rd February 1488 for which it is best remembered. Dias was trying to find a trade route to India but this particular mission was aborted on 12th March 1488 when his crew refused to go any further.

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Photo © michaeljung - Fotolia.com

References and further reading

Things ewe never knewe about South African place names - Author: Ann Gadd - Published: 2015 - Page: 146

The Dive Sites of South Africa - Author: Anton Koornhof - Published: 1992 - Page: 53

The Pictorial Motoring Atlas of South Africa - Author: Maxwell Leigh - Published: 1987 - Page: 64

Southern Africa from the Highway - Author: AA RSA - Published: 1991 - Page: 182

On Route - Explore South Africa region by region - 3rd edition - Author: B.P.J. Erasmus - Published: 2014 - Page: 85

Places to Visit in Southern Africa - Author: AA RSA - Published: 1995 - Page: 200

Readers Digest Illustrated Guide to Southern Africa - 4th edition - Author: - Published: 1986 - Page: 107

Road Tripping South Africa - Author: MapStudio - Published: 2014 - Page: 74

On Route - A region by region guide to South Africa - Author: B.P.J. Erasmus - Published: 1995 - Page: 61

Hit the Road - 2nd Edition - Author: MapStudio - Published: 2018 - Page: 65

go! - Issue 157 - Author: - Published: 2019 - Page: 122

go! - Issue 173 - Author: - Published: 2020 - Page: 36

go! - Issue 084 - Author: - Published: 2013 - Page: 106

go! - Issue 151 - Author: - Published: 2019 - Page: 39

Getaway - Vol 32 No 02 - Author: - Published: 2020 - Page: 22

Drive Out 4X4 Trail Guide - Author: - Published: 2011 - Page: 78

Drive Out 4X4 Trail Guide - Author: - Published: 2011 - Page: 116

Farm Stall to Farm Stall - Author: Jennifer Stern - Published: 2014 - Page: 50

Getaway - Vol 30 No 11 - Author: - Published: 2019 - Page: 104

Country Life - Issue 270 - Author: - Published: 2020 - Page: 74

Country Life - Issue 279 - Author: - Published: 2019 - Page: 77

Country Life - Issue 257 - Author: - Published: 2017 - Page: 55

Country Life - Issue 182 - Author: - Published: 2011 - Page: 68

Conollys Guide to Southern Africa - 2nd edition - Author: Denis Conolly - Published: 1982 - Page: 98

Caravan & Outdoor Life - Issue 684 - Author: - Published: 2019 - Page: 38

Caravan & Outdoor Life - Issue 665 - Author: - Published: 2017 - Page: 34

Book of the Road - 4th edition - Author: MapStudio - Published: 2019 - Page: 133

For more info: Mossel Bay Municipality

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